Chapter 11: How am I still alive?

CONTENT WARNING: MENTION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT

(Logan)

My heart nearly explodes as she says those words.

Here she is, vulnerable and confused and so fucking brave. I know it’s mostly because the mate bond is doing its magic, but I’ll use every bit of advantage I can to gain her trust, her love.

I pull back from the hug and wipe a stray tear running down her cheek away with my thumb. I want to kiss her, but it’s too soon. She literally just met me, and she knows nothing about how werewolf relationships, mate-bonds, work – the instantaneous nature of it. I need to tread with caution, take it slow.

“The first thing we need to do is get you out of this hospital. You are not safe here for much longer.” I try to break this news to her gently, but her eyes grow wide in alarm.

“What?”

I need to explain, gently.

“Those men that harmed you? They wanted no evidence of their crimes left behind, which is why they thought you’ll die in that river. You narrowly missed going over a waterfall that is notoriously dangerous. If news reaches them that you are still alive, they’ll come for you.”

She was quiet, still looking at me with big, trusting eyes, and I saw the implications of my words sink in.

“I’ve tried my best to keep news of you being here from not spreading, but this is a small town with all kinds of political intricacies. If it’s okay with you, I need to take you somewhere safe.”

She nodded mutely. “Okay. Let’s go.” She says and starts pulling needles from her arms.

“Whoa! Wait, can we let Doctor Fairfield check you over first?”

“Fairfield? The crazy one? Do you trust him?”

I had to smile at the ‘crazy one’ – he did tell me that he suspects her to think he belongs in the looney bin after that interview he had with her.

“With my life,” I say, and she nods again.

Fairfield walks in a few seconds later, as I mind-linked him to come in as soon as she started to pull the wires from her body.

“That was impeccable timing,” I hear her mumble under her breath as she stares at the doctor.

“Ah, my dear. You’re awake and sprightly, I see – good!” he says to her and looks at me. “I see the mate bond is well and truly at work?”

No werewolf talk yet, doc. I’m going by baby steps here. I mind link him and he turns his attention back to Jaime.

“How are you feeling, Jaime?”

She frowns as she thinks for an answer.

“I’m a little sore all over really. But generally, not bad. How long was I out?”

“Just shy of two days since Alph… uh Logan brought you in. You were in a pretty bad shape, and we had to fix you up in theatre…” He starts rambling all kinds of medical speak that she obviously understood, her eyes wide as she listened to him, interjecting with a question here and there that sounded like gibberish to me.

“How am I still alive after that?” she almost sighs the question with a frown creasing her brow.

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Have you mentioned the bond? Fairfield asks me through the mind link. I nod at him and reply very basic only.

Then he answers her question.

“You have Logan here to thank for that,” is all he says, and she looks up at me questioningly.

“I promised I’ll explain, didn’t I?” I tell her gently, and I’m elated that she accepts that without any arguments.

“Doctor, can I move her somewhere safe now? Is she good to go?”

He seems to ponder the question, realizing the danger she’s in and weighing up her danger of a medical relapse versus the attackers coming after her again.

“As long as you stay together, let the bond help with the healing. But you will need to take it very easy. She’s recovering from significant trauma – both physically and mentally. She is likely to need help with that,” he warns.

She didn’t question the fact that the doctor has basically indicated that he’s handing her over in my care. Or that we’re talking about her rather than with her.

“And Al… Logan, please keep me updated about even the slightest little thing that may cause worry or looks off,” he asks.

“Of course, doc. We’ll keep communicating.”

“Now, Sally will be here shortly with some clothes for you. I hope you don’t mind, dear, but I’ve sent my wife over to your cottage to gather some of your stuff. She can’t wait to meet you.”

Jaime blinked at him before she gave him a gentle smile. “Thanks doctor Fairfield, that was really thoughtful of you,” she says.

The doctor starts uncoupling machines and pulling wires and needles out of Jaime’s arms. The door opens just as he shoves away the last of the machines.

In bustles his mate, Sally, who is just as grey and wrinkly as he is. She smiles a beaming smile at all of us, gives me a slight bow and settles her gaze on Jaime.

“Oh, there she is! My, you are just as beautiful as I imagined. Hello, my dear, I’m Sally!” she rambles as she rushes over to the bed.

“Uhm. Hi Sally, nice to meet you. Thank you for the clothes,” Jaime greets politely, and the old lady holds her hand in a comforting manner.

“Any time, my dear. I’m happy to help. And I just wanted to say that I’m so sorry that our town has treated you so appallingly. But if there’s one thing you should know, it’s that Alpha Logan will take care of you, and protect you, and bring those fuckers to justice!”

I almost growl at Sally for that slip, especially as I see more confusion on Jaime’s face – maybe both at the old lady dropping a swear word and at what she called me.

“Alpha Logan? Is that some kind of title?” Jaime asks and I could see the doc berating his mate over the mind link.

I answer her, trying to spare the good old lady from more embarrassment. “Yes, it is. Remember I told you that I have a lot to explain to you?”

She nods.

“Okay. Well, without further ado, I’d like to get Jaime away from here as soon as possible. Doc, we’ll stay in touch,” I end the meeting and the two oldies file out of the room.

I pick the duffel bag up that Sally left near the door and place it on Jaime’s bed.

“I’ll leave you to get dressed, but please let me know if you need help of any kind. I’ll be just outside the door,” I say and brush my hand over hers again in reassurance.

“Okay, thanks Logan.”

My heart does a little flip at the sound of my name on her lips. I loved the way she said it, the way it sounded like a caress and not just a name. I smile and leave the room knowing that I’m one blessed man, and that having waited over 80 years to find her was worth it.

As I wait outside the door, I receive a mind link from the doctor.

By the way, Alpha. I didn’t tell you at the time because I didn’t want to upset you any further, but I think you should know. When we had the Luna in the operating theatre and I discovered evidence of the sexual assault, I took DNA samples of the semen. I’ve sent that off to a colleague of mine in Boston who has access to all the right equipment to analyze it, and he’s come back with some results.

My blood runs cold as he tells me all this, and I eagerly grab at the last sentence.

Thanks for being so proactive, doc. What did it reveal?

He replies immediately. There were three different strains of DNA. He’s run it through the werewolf DNA database that he is maintaining but it didn’t make a match to anyone in the database, except that they all carried the Dark Moon genetic marker. But now we know that we’re looking for three perpetrators and that they’re from Dark Moon.

I ponder that, my fists clenching and unclenching involuntarily. Yes, she did repeatedly say ‘them’ and ‘they’, indicating more than one. I’ll gently ask her for any memories that may reveal their identities, but we might have to use some extra creativity too.

Will your colleague be willing to keep helping us if we send more DNA to find a match? I ask.

Absolutely! He’ll be delighted to receive as many DNA samples as possible to build that database even further. I think it could be a great asset to us one day, and he is eager to do that. He’ll even match the samples I sent to the new ones we keep sending too.

With that bit of info, an idea starts to form in my mind. I’m going to catch the fuckers and castrate them.